体坛英语新闻：China thwarts Denmark 3-1 for semifinals at Sudirman Cup

NANNING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Host China beat Denmark 3-1 to qualify for the semifinals of the Sudirman Cup here on Thursday evening.

In the opening mixed doubles, world No.1 Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei rallied from one game down to beat 14th-ranked Danish combination Mathias Christiansen and Sara Thygesen 19-21, 21-11, 21-13 in 63 minutes.

Denmark erased the deficit by winning the men's singles when third-ranked Viktor Axelsen beat world No. 5 and Rio Olympic champion Chen Long 21-11, 21-18 in one hour.

From the men's doubles, world's No. 3 Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen edged over 8th-ranked Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-18, 21-16 in 55 minutes, helping China lead 2-1 for good.

Then, Chen Yufei sealed the victory for China in the women's singles as the third-ranked shuttler cruised over 22nd-ranked Mia Blichfeldt 21-16, 21-17.

In the semifinals on Saturday, China, who won the Cup 10 times, will meet Thailand who beat South Korea 3-1.